News & Updates

Union Minister of Tourism today announced the launch of a new campaign to publicise the tourism potential of the Himalayas and promote this incredible tourist product internationally.

To be called “777 days of the Indian Himalayas”, the campaign will have a two fold objective, one to attract more international tourists to India during the lean summer season and second, to remind the world that 73 percent of the Himalayan region is in India.

The Minister pointed out that the aim of this campaign is to promote not only the Himalayan States but also the gateway cities which will serve them with their international and domestic airports and railway stations.

It is the time to change the image of India from the one entirely in the plains to one having major attractions in the Himalayas and to change the image from only a winter destination to a summer destination as well.

He stated that the Ministry plans to launch the campaign on September 27 this year on the occasion of the World Tourism Day. The first major event after the launch will be the Himalayan Run & Trek Event in October, 2013.

The campaign will be launched on September 27 this year on the occasion of World Tourism Day. It will have a twofold objective—one to attract more international tourists to India during the lean summer season, and second to remind the world that 73 per cent of the Himalayan region is in India.

This decision was taken after a meeting between Dr K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Tourism, Government of India, and the office-bearers of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI).

At the meeting, Dr Chiranjeevi pointed out that the aim of the campaign will be to promote not only the Himalayan states, but also the gateway cities that serve with their international and domestic airports and railway stations. He explained that at the time of arrival or departure, these cities will offer visitors an opportunity to see the tourist attractions there.

Further, MoT is preparing relief maps of the Indian Himalayas in different states in sections, which when put together would spread over a width of seven feet. The Ministry will unveil this map, along with a brochure on Himalayas, at the launch of the campaign. Moreover, following the launch of the campaign, the 'Himalayan Run & Trek Event' will be conducted in October, 2013.

Dr Chiranjeevi emphasised the need to change the image of India from the one entirely in the plains to one that has major attractions in the Himalayas. There was also need to change the image of the Himalayas from just a winter destination to a summer destination as well, he added.

The Ministry will also hold meetings with state governments and other stakeholders, including airlines, to offer similar discounts.